Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy on Monday announced that a $525,000 federal grant will be awarded to the Howard Center’s Safe Recovery Program, so that those in immediate need of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder will have access to buprenorphine on the same day they request it. Leahy was joined for the announcement by Bob Bick, Howard Center’s Chief Executive Officer; Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan; Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Safe Recovery Program Coordinator Grace Keller.

Vermont Business Magazine The Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) presented Gifford Health Care inRandolph with a 2018 Spirit of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Award during a ceremony Thursday afternoon, Octber 11, at Gifford Medical Center. Accepting the award on behalf of Gifford were Human Resources Recruiter Angela Allard, Environmental Services Manager Ruthie Adams and Chef William “Bill” Koucky. The three Gifford employees were recognized for their outstanding support of individuals with disabilities.

“Gifford Health Care is a true supporter and great partner assisting Vermonters of all abilities to become employed,” said Nat Piper of Creative Workforce Solutions, an initiative of the State of Vermont Agency of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, during the award ceremony.

Vermont State Police On Sunday October 14, 2018, at about 11:28 am, the Vermont State Police St. Johnsbury barracks responded to a report of a dead body at 1549 Victory Road in the town of Concord. The body was discovered by a property owner, who spotted the body along the wooded edge of his driveway. The Vermont State Police are identifying the victim as Michael Pimental, 37, of Waterford. Police are attempting to locate a blue 2005 Ford F150 extended cab with Vermont plates 296A851. According to news reports, the deceased was being investigated in a heroin case.

Vermont Business Magazine The College Board's 2018 Trends in Higher Education reports released today—Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College Pricing—show a continuation of moderate growth in college prices and grant aid and declines in undergraduate student borrowing. For in-state students at public colleges, Vermont ($16,610) has the highest tuition in the nation; New Hampshire ($16,460) ranks second.

Vermont Business Magazine On October 1, 2018, Healthy Living Market announces strict new product ingredient standards that will apply to all store locations by January 2019. The decision to tighten already strict product ingredient standards, was made to benefit guests of Healthy Living Market. Offering confidence and convenience in grocery shopping. Healthy Living will become the 'Healthiest Grocery Store in the Northeast'

Under the new Product Ingredient Standards, as of January 2019, every food item sold at Healthy Living Market will be free from:
Added hormones
Antibiotics
Artificial fats and trans-fats
High fructose corn syrup
Artificial sweeteners
Bleached or bromated flour
Artificial colors
Artificial flavors
Artificial preservatives

Vermont Business Magazine Tender Loving Homecare, Inc of Barre is undertaking a construction, renovation and remodeling event, or old-fashioned barn-raising, for Tender Loving Respite House. The house, located next door to Tender Loving Home Care at 15 Ayers Street, is a 9,200-square-foot Victorian which will soon become transitional housing for hospice and palliative care patients, those undergoing Cancer or other treatments at nearby facilities and others.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 3^rd at 9 am. Tender Loving Homecare seeks volunteers with construction experience to help with siding the building, and other renovation efforts taking place during the day. Food and beverages will be served to volunteers.

Vermont Business Magazine Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) welcomed back former patients and their families to the 26^th annual Rehabilitation Reunion held in the courtyard of the hospital’s Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, September 20. The gathering was part of MAHHC’s celebration of National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, from September 16-22. Dozens returned for the afternoon event, which each year reunites Rehabilitation Center alumni with each other and staff members who aided them in the recovery of strength, coordination, and mobility following injuries, surgery, or illness. MAHHC hospital staff were present for the gathering, and food and refreshments were served.

Vermont Business Magazine CVS Health CVS, +0.83% today announced that MinuteClinic, the company's retail medical clinic, has rolled out its new virtual health care offering in the state of Vermont. People in Vermont with minor illnesses and injuries, skin conditions and other wellness needs can now seek care through MinuteClinic Video Visits, a telehealth offering. MinuteClinic Video Visits provide patients with access to care 24 hours a day, seven days a week from their mobile device.

Vermont Business Magazine At its meeting on September 21, 2018, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) voted to place Plainfield-based Goddard College on probation for a period not to exceed two years because the Commission found that Goddard College does not now meet the Commission’s standards on Institutional Resources and Organization and Governance. The Commission will monitor the conditions at Goddard College during the period of probation. The action by NECHE was revealed today and was effective as of October 10.

While on probation, Goddard College remains accredited and maintains eligibility for federal funding, including student financial aid, NECHE said in a statement. As previously reported, the accreditor was considering such a move because of the college's financial situation.

Eliminate the property tax on primary residences and base school taxes on income

by Paul Cillo, Public Assets Institute In 1997 the Vermont Supreme Court declared the state’s education financing system unconstitutional and required that the Legislature devise a system that provides substantially equal access to public education resources for all of the state’s children, regardless of the wealth of the community they live in. That is what Act 60 accomplished. Before Act 60, property-wealthy communities could raise lots of money for their schools with low tax rates, while property-poor communities had high rates and still were not able to raise much.

Vermont Business Magazine Dr Harry Chen has been named executive director of the Center for Health and Wellbeing and public health officer at the University of Vermont. He begins work today, October 15. Dr Chen served as commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health for six years. He was also a three-term Vermont State Representative and served as acting secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services. While serving as acting secretary, Dr Chen was a co-chair of the President’s Commission for Alcohol, Cannabis and other Drug Use at UVM.

Dr. Harry Chen has been named executive director of UVM's Center for Health and Wellbeing. (Photo: Ed Neuert)

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Miami-based Mi9 Retail, a provider of end-to-end software solutions for retailers, wholesalers, and brands, announced today that it has signed a contract to acquire MyWebGrocer (MWG), a leading software and digital media company to the grocery and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industries based in Winooski. Financial terms were not disclosed. MWG was founded by the Tarrant family in 1999. It moved into the Champlain Mill in June 2011 as part of a major redevelopment of downtown Winooski. Earlier this year MWG told Vermont Business Magazine that it employed 160 in Vermont and 315 total. MWG was previously sold to California private equity firm HGGC in 2012, who itself had acquired it from New York investor Stripes Group. The Stripes investment occurred in 2009, with the Tarrant brothers retaining minority ownership. The MWG website now redirects to the Mi9 site.